i want to buy dd (3) a dolls house for xmas. but we live in a tiny flat. will she "get" it, and will it give her status anxiety!

[beforesunrise]

dd is at the stage where she loves to play imaginative games, building stories with little characters etc. i think a dolls house or similar would be a nice xmas present (if i can find one that doesnt cost the earth), but the ones i have seen so far are rather grand, three stories, lots of rooms, etc etc.

we live in a flat- so i am worried first of all that she won't be able to relate to the big house much (thus reducing the "make believe" aspect) and secondly that i will be sowing the seeds of a lifelong obsession with climbing the property ladder

the latter is obviously a bit of a joke, although, seriously, i wonder if it'll confuse her/make her wonder why she doesnt live in a big house?

i think she'll just enjoy playing with it to be honest!
has she never been in a house?

and I'm not sure she'll make that much of a direct connection between a house and a toy either really...
kids play with all sorts of stuff don't they? doesn't have to be an exact facsimile of real life...

I had a 'Pippa's Apartment' as a little girl and nagged my mum to get a flat!!

Seriously though, I doubt she'll give it any thought, in the same way children play with dinosaurs and castles. DS loves his Ferrari but we won't be getting one any time soon

ELC do one which I'm pretty sure isn't too huge.

I agree with catissleepy. I wouldn't worry about it. You can get some smaller ones though if you don't have the space (elc I think), although they probably won't be that much cheaper.

Sue Ryder shop do really nice wooden (new) ones

I don't think it's a problem at all that you live in a flat

My DD had her dolls house from 2 and showed very little interest in it. But when she turned 3 she fell in love with it and plays with it a lot.

I'd say get it for sure.

yeah I think 3 is a great age for this sort of toy

you could even get a cardboard one like this and decorate it yourself if you were feeling creative...

A lot of the best dolls houses and dolls house furniture comes from Sweden. And how do most Swedes live? That's right- in flats.

I bought my ds a castle.

I got a nice one from Homebase for my gs last year (for his 3rd birthday), it came complete with simple furniture and people that could sit, stand, move arms etc. Think it was about £50.